Crypto PAC-Backed Adrian Boafo Wins Maryland Democratic Primary

Maryland State Delegate Adrian Boafo won the Democratic primary for the state's 5th Congressional District on Tuesday, putting him on track to compete for the seat held by retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer. The Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ called the race after a crowded field of more than 20 candidates.

Boafo entered the race with endorsements from Hoyer, Governor Wes Moore and Senator Angela Alsobrooks. The district leans heavily Democratic, giving the primary winner a strong path to the November general election.

Protect Progress, a Fairshake-linked super PAC that backs Democratic candidates, spent heavily to support Boafo. According to Federal Election Commission filings cited in campaign finance coverage, the group spent more than $5.5 million on the race.

“We went big and we went early,” said Geoff Vetter, a Fairshake spokesperson. “We did our part to move Adrian Boafo from fifth place to the halls of Congress. He is poised to be a leader in the largest pro-crypto Congress in history.”

Outside spending became a central issue in the final weeks. Maryland Matters reported that outside groups spent about $8.8 million supporting Boafo as of June 3. That included funds from Protect Progress and the United Democracy Project, a super PAC linked to AIPAC.

Boafo's win gives crypto-backed groups another victory in the 2026 primary season. Fairshake-linked PACs spent more than $8 million ahead of key congressional primaries in Maryland, New York and Utah, as previously reported by crypto.news. The spending focused on candidates viewed as friendly to digital asset policy.

Protect Progress put much of its funding toward Boafo in Maryland and Rep. Ritchie Torres in New York. Defend American Jobs, another Fairshake affiliate, spent in a Republican primary in Utah.

Fairshake and allied crypto PACs raised $193 million by the end of 2024, according to earlier reporting. Major donors included Ripple, Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz, Gemini, Crypto.com and Kraken.

Boafo's victory follows other wins by candidates backed by crypto-aligned PACs. Christian Menefee won a Texas Democratic primary runoff after Protect Progress spent about $5 million supporting him and $2.8 million opposing Rep. Al Green. In Alabama, Barry Moore won a Republican runoff after Defend American Jobs spent more than $12 million on ads.

The Maryland result comes as digital asset legislation remains active in Washington. The GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act have kept crypto policy tied to campaign spending, industry lobbying and primary contests.

Boafo will now move to the general election. His primary win shows how crypto PACs are using targeted spending to shape congressional races before the next Congress takes office.